Subscribe to Weekly Local Best Of ERA feed
1 month ago
The late Margie Jenkins of Franklinton with one of her beautiful azaleas,
The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station is pleased to announce the Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden Party, a special event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved Margie Y. Jenkins Azalea Garden.
The celebration will take place Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Hammond Research Station, located at 21549 Old Covington Highway, Hammond. Refreshments will be provided for all guests.
Published on
1 month ago
The Washington Parish Tourism Commission is now in its new office at 1041 Main Street, just south of the parish courthouse.
Normal operating hours for the tourism office are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. ‘til 3:30. p.m.
Brochures and information about Washington Parish and its many attractions can be found at the office.
In the photo above, Tourism Commission Executive Director Patty Alford is shown placing balloons in front of the office. She noted that the office is open when the balloons are in place. “If you see the balloons, come on in!” she said.
Published on
1 month ago
The Washington Parish Economic Development Foundation (WPEDF), in partnership with STartUP Northshore, will host the second workshop in the Northshore Capital Readiness Initiative (NCRI) series: "Understanding Why Customers Buy." This is a free workshop for local business owners and their team.
The workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 4:00 – 6:30 PM at the WPEDF offices, located at 526 Georgia Avenue in Bogalusa.
Published on
1 month ago
Franklinton’s Bryce Barber waits
for a good pitch during the Shaw game.
PHOTO BY TONI TAGEANT
, FHS players watch anxiously from the dugout during the tight Franklinton-Shaw game. PHOTO BY TONI TAGEANT
The Franklinton Demons baseball team participated in the Belle Chasse tournament last week and came away with two wins and one loss moving their overall record to 4-3 overall. The Demons defeated the Shaw Eagles and the Riverdale Rebels and they were downed by St Martins.
By DAMON SMITH on
1 month ago
Cecily Bateman
Mercer Adese Riche came into this world at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge in November of 1948. She was born the cherished only child of Roy Lawrence Riche and Ada Lea Watkins Riche. Proud grandparents were Mack Henry Watkins and Laura Celine Landry Watkins, on her maternal side, and Louis Jervey (Gervais) Riche and Mercedese Lemonier Riche, on her paternal side. Mercer was the namesake of both her paternal grandmother and her mother whose names were shortened and combined to yield her beautiful name.
By Cecily Bateman on
1 month ago
Callie Foreman
When one looks back on the span of a lifetime the days all seem to run together. Short of a birthday, holiday, wedding, or funeral most days begin much the same and end much the same. This is not such a bad thing. Routine can be reassuring and having raised children who now have children most mothers can agree that "no news is good news." In fact, an uneventful day can be a blessing.
By Callie Foreman on
1 month ago
Pictured Left to Right: Jimmy Seibert, CEO, April Ard, RRT, Kandi James, RN, Critical Care Director, Melissa Graham, BS, MLS(ASCP) Microbiology Specialist, Brittany Dillon, BSN, RN, Director of Infection Control & Prevention, Liz Dunaway, BS, MLS (ASCP) Assistant Laboratory Director, Kristian Boyette, MHA, MLS (ASCP) Blood Bank Specialist, Jeffrey Vince, BS, MLS (ASCP) Laboratory Director, Taryn Marchese, BSN, RN, CNO, Crystal Lyons, RRT, Director of Clinical Operations, Dewayne Provost, RRT, Cardiopulmonary Supervisor, and Misty Thomas, RRT.
Riverside Medical Center is proud to announce that our laboratory has successfully completed its recent re-accreditation survey by The Joint Commission with zero deficiencies. This outstanding achievement demonstrates that our laboratory not only meets, but consistently upholds the highest standards in diagnostic accuracy, specimen handling, documentation, staff competency, and quality assurance processes.
Published on
1 month ago
Published on
1 month ago
Jim Brown
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has stirred up a hornet’s nest back in the Bayou State over his Facebook comments of eating a Louisiana delicacy. The Senator had this to say: “Found this raccoon in my backyard. We ate him for breakfast.” He even included a photo of the raccoon. And his Facebook friends went nuts with comments. Who on earth would even consider eating a raccoon?
By Jim Brown on
1 month ago
4 Notices of Public Hearings that were published in the February 25 printed edition of The Era-Leader were not updated before they were published. The Public Hearings will be held on March 17, not March 2.
The correctly updated Notices are shown below. They will also be published in the March 4 printed edition of The Era-Leader. The Era-Leader regrets any confusion caused by the publication of Notices that had not been updated.
Notice of Public Hearing
Published on
1 month 1 week ago
The Regular Meeting of the Franklinton Mayor and Board of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, February 10 Following the approval of minutes of the January 13 Regular Meeting, the Board addressed nine items of new business.
By Toni Tageant on
1 month 1 week ago
The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, February 9. The meeting began late after a Personnel Committee meeting ran forty minutes late attempting to navigate ongoing issues with Fire District #7. Council President Reginald McMasters stepped in at 6:10 pm to end the Personnel meeting and begin the Regular Meeting. This meeting was prefaced with a brief public hearing on an ordinance to amend Ordinance No.
By Toni Tageant on
1 month 1 week ago
The Washington Parish School Board met on Thursday, February 12 at Varnado High School. Following the call to order students from VHS led the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and a clarinet rendition of the National Anthem.
By Toni Tageant on
1 month 1 week ago
Marcel Chauvin, age 66, drowned in an old gravel pit near Enon on Tuesday after the kayak he was fishing from flipped. A witness said that after the kayak flipped Chauvin tried to get back in but his hand slipped and he went underwater and did not re-surface.
The gravel pit where the drowning occurred is very close to the Bogue Chitto River.
Efforts to rescue Chauvin were unsuccessful.
The accident occurred about noon on Tuesday and his body was recovered from the gravel pit Tuesday evening.
Published on
1 month 1 week ago
"The lawyers dwell on small details." ---- Don Henley in "The End of the Innocence."\
By Cecily Bateman on
1 month 1 week ago
Blake Orman, center, poses with the Franklinton Demons baseball team after throwing out the first pitch to open the 2026 season.
PHOTO BY RAYNELLE BUFFINET
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for opening day on Monday, February 9th was former Demon #11 Blake Orman.
Blake is a 2006 graduate of FHS and played baseball for four years.
Published on
1 month 1 week ago
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Franklinton Demons on Friday, February 13 was Hunter Maxwell.
In 2015 then Coach Jeff Tageant was contacted about two transfer students who played baseball. Over his career, this didn't always equate to good players, but brothers Hunter and Garrett Maxwell proved this wrong. Hunter played for two years and primarily pitched for the Demons. He became known for his grit and competitiveness on the mound. He threw hard and put his all into every pitch.
Published on
1 month 1 week ago
Kaden Breaux of FHS waits for a good pitch.
PHOTO BY RAYNELLE BUFFINET
The Franklinton Demons baseball team won their regular season opener last Monday at Demon Diamond, 13-0 in a run rule shortened game against the Kentwood Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos put a runner on in the first but he was thrown out attempting to steal second. This would be their only hit of the game. The Demons scored in the bottom of the first as Kaden Breaux drew a walk, was bunted over to second and drove home by Bryce Barber's single for a 1-0 lead.
By DAMON SMITH on
1 month 1 week ago
Parker Decarlo waits on third, ready to run to home plate.
PHOTO BY RAYNELLE BUFFINET
The Franklinton Demons baseball team held a home game last Friday at Demon Diamond against the 5A Ponchatoula Green Wave and came away with a thrilling 9-8 victory. The win moves the Demons record to 2-2 on the season.
The Green Wave went up 2-1 in the first inning before the Demons tied it in the second. The Demons then took the lead in the third 5-2 before the Green Wave took the lead 6-5 in the top of the fourth. The Demons tied the game in the bottom before taking a 7-6 lead in the fifth.
By DAMON SMITH on
1 month 1 week ago
,
In the continuing effort to encourage “Pride In Franklinton” a local business and a local homeowner’s yard and garden have been recognized.
Shown above is Citizens Savings Bank on Main Street in Franklinton. In the photo are manager Benny Burris, Jared Varnado, Haley Sea, and Kelley Brooks.
Next photo (click arrow) is the yard of Ray and Kay Williams at 1114 Lynwood Drive in Franklinton.
The monthly awards are sponsored by the Town of Franklinton, the Home & Garden Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Published on
